KPMG has bolstered its commitment to support Scotland’s growing startup community, with a pioneering new base at one of the country’s leading co-working spaces.
A dedicated specialist team from the firm will now sit alongside tech-focused fast-growing businesses at Clockwise in Glasgow. The team will be on hand to support and guide the tenants on a range of business-critical issues – from raising finance to governance and practical advice on R&D Tax credits.
From autumn 2019, in collaboration with Clockwise, KPMG will be launching a breakfast event series giving tenants and entrepreneurs direct access to insight and expert advice.
In recent years, Scotland has witnessed a sharp increase in the number of fast-growth-focused startups, helping to boost the technology sector, which now employs more than 48,000 people and contributes over £4bn to the Scottish economy. Data from the latest Global Co-working Survey highlights the scale of growth in the industry, with the number of desks hired to startups rising by an average of over 20% every year.
Supporting the booming industry is now a core focus for KPMG, with a number of partnerships now underway, including Clockwise and the TechX accelerator programme in Aberdeen, working with the Oil and Gas Technology Centre to support innovative new businesses looking to capitalise on the recovery of the sector, and its shift towards data and tech-driven growth.
Clockwise, based at 77 Renfrew Street, opened its doors in 2017, following an extensive refurbishment of office space above Glasgow’s former Savoy Shopping Centre. The multi-million-pound project has revitalised the building and the city’s co-working culture, shifting away from the traditional serviced office model, towards a more innovative environment, where new business leaders can work, learn and grow together.
A team of KPMG experts, led by growth manager Amy Burnett, will be permanently based within the building, enabling entrepreneurial founders and CEOs as they grow through businesses, to access unrivalled support and insight from a leading international firm, including access to KPMG’s global network of corporates and investors.
Catherine Burnet, senior partner at KPMG in Scotland, commented: “Scotland’s economy is going through a period of rapid change, with more and more entrepreneurs embracing disruptive innovation and focusing on developing their own high-growth businesses.
“KPMG has traditionally built relationships with large, established businesses, and that will continue to be a major focus for us, but we’re keen to play our part in shaping the new, future economy, sharing our insight and support with Scotland’s new dynamic business leaders, and acting as facilitators, helping to connect them to our extensive global network of talent and experience.”
General manager at Clockwise, Lesley Anne Jeffery, helped launch the hub in 2017 and has witnessed its rapid growth. With demand now outstripping supply, the hub now takes up ten floors and more than 70,000 square feet of collaborative space.
Lesley Anne added: “From the first day we opened our doors in Glasgow, we’ve worked hard to move away from the traditional image of slightly soulless serviced offices. The Clockwise approach is all about building a community of entrepreneurs, startups and freelancers, who can learn from each other, network and grow together.
"KPMG adds a completely new dimension to our offering, enabling our residents to access expert insight and advice from the best in the business. Ultimately, everything we do here is about collaboration, and that culture fits perfectly with KPMG’s values.”
Sourced from Business and Professional Services - Written by Niena Sheldon